5 Ways to Stay Frugal Yet Classy With Wedding Photography
Posted on November 3, 2009
Filed Under Digital Camera Features, Good Digital Cameras |
Nowadays every young couple seems to want to get married and recreate some of the fairytale celebrity weddings they see everywhere. But the cost of a wedding can frequently cause a lot of misery both before and after the big day. Last year, the average US couple spent k on their wedding, with the average in the UK being far higher at a whopping £20k, or k. I don’t have to tell you that’s an insane amount of money to spend on a single day. And with the credit crunch showing no signs of easing, prospective brides and grooms are actively looking for ways to cut costs without spoiling the magic of their special day. Among the drastic measures being taken are asking guests to help with food or music, trimming down invitations to close friends and family only, and the idea of a ‘pre-worn wedding dress’ has appeared in recent years, which was unheard of just 10 years ago. Yet the photography is one area few are prepared to compromise on, and with good reason. Of all the possible expenses you could lay out for your wedding day, its the photography that will stay with you and your family long after the others are just a hole in your bank account. Below are my top five tips on how to keep your wedding photography budget low, without compromising on quality.
1. Making the best of Google
There aren’t many photographers around today that don’t have a website, and one of the best ways of finding and comparing wedding photographers in your area and price range is through search engines like Google. However with competition being so fierce it’s not hard for prospective brides and grooms to miss out on some really special and talented photographers by not looking far enough when searching. Spend some time trawling through the Google results beyond the first few pages. After a thorough search you should have put together a good list of photographers that you can now start comparing on price and style. Also don’t just go for the obvious search terms - make sure you vary your searches, and always include a few local areas and towns to find photographers who are slightly further afield but willing to travel. My wife and I live in Sussex, and when looking for our photographer we not only searched “Wedding Photographer Brighton” - we also looked at other surrounding areas such as Kent, Hampshire, London and Surrey.
2. Beware of Hidden Charges
Gone are the days when your wedding photographer had to develop their own prints in a darkroom - its all digital now. All of which has meant that wedding photographer prices are a lot more simple now too. So I’m amazed that so many photographers still charge their customers an extra fee for each print on top of the booking! I would strongly suggest you forget about these guys and go for someone who will provide a hi-res CD of all the images from the day. Armed with this CD you can then trot down to your high street photo printers and get the prints you want in the size you want at minimal cost.
3. Make your Own Photo Books!
With digital photography the era of the traditional wedding photo album has passed. Nowadays modern wedding photography books are a big hit with most couples - but the problem is if you go through your photographer these will often cost you an arm and a leg. But if you can be bothered and have a flair for creative design, you can now design photobooks yourself using specialist software downloaded from the net, and get them printed up at ludicrously cheap rates. The same goes for things like canvas prints and enlargements - all you really need are the original high res images!
4. Yes, There are a Few Swindlers Out There, But You Can Easily Avoid Them
Everyon’e heard a story about a couple who got scammed by a so-called “photographer” who ran off with their money. Such criminals, who it must be said are few and far between, lure couples in with a too good to be true package, often stolen photos, and once they receive the deposit you never hear from them again. It breaks my heart to hear about this sort of thing. The thing is, if you’re vigilant they’re pretty easy to spot and avoid. Firstly, ensure that any payment of deposits or fees are done via bank transfer - its the most secure method of payment, and can be traced and reversed in the event of a problem. Also make sure you get a legally binding contract from the photographer which states clearly what you are getting for your money and will protect you. And lastly, just make sure you have your radar up - try and visit the photographer, see lots of examples of his work and ask lots of questions.
5. Don’t be Tempted to Cut Corners!
My final piece of advice is actually against the whole saving money grain, but I feel it’s really important when it comes to wedding photography. In your quest to cut your wedding budget don’t go too far! As I said above, the photos are probably the most important part of the wedding day when you look back at it in years to come. There are hundreds of amateur and inexperienced ‘photographers’ out there who are trying their luck as a side income. If you look at their prices they seem like a bargain. But often the real bargains are to be found by going up a level in pricing. Remember that if you don’t look at your photographer’s work and go “wow” what is the point in spending all that money on a professional?
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